Although some state parks have opened for limited day use, both facilities and staffing will be limited, said Chris Havel, with Oregon State Parks and Recreation.
And while warm, sunny weather might make the Oregon Coast look extra enticing this weekend, Havel is reminding people that no state park sites on the coast have reopened. “Travel as close to home as you possibly can,” Havel said. “There is still a ban on nonessential travel, so we need you to keep that in mind and make good choices.”
Cities such as Seaside and Cannon Beach have announced that all of their beaches are closed to the public. Cannon Beach announced Thursday evening that its beaches would be closed from 7 a.m. Saturday through 10:00 p.m. Sunday, for both residents and visitors.
Cases mount at Astorian seafood plant
Twelve more workers at Bornstein Seafoods in Astoria have tested positive for the coronavirus, bringing the outbreak to 26, according to The Astorian.
The Clatsop County Public Health Department reported the new numbers Friday. It began testing workers at the seafood processor on May 2 after the company informed the county on May 1 that an employee had tested positive for the virus.
Bornstein Seafoods has shut down two plants at the Port of Astoria in response to the outbreak and advised employees to self-isolate at home.
More outdoor park sites reopen in a limited way
Oregon State Parks announced Saturday that more outdoor sites have reopened for limited day use.
The agency has reopened a number of sites in Central and Eastern Oregon, in addition to some in the Willamette Valley and Southern Oregon that reopened earlier this week.
The park system remains closed to camping through at least May 25. A full list of open sites is available on the Oregon State Parks website.
Opponents of stay-home order rally at Washington capitol
For the second time in a month, on Saturday opponents of Washington Gov. Jay Inslee’s stay home order — many of them openly carrying firearms — rallied in Olympia, calling to end the state’s restrictions.
The unpermitted “Hazardous Liberty” rally drew an estimated 1,500 people, attracting conservative state legislators, Republican and Libertarian candidates for public office and members of far-right groups, including Republican state Rep. Matt Shea and Joey Gibson of Patriot Prayer, a group that has attracted racist and violent followers.
A common theme among attendees was that COVID-19 does not pose a significant threat, despite nearly 80,000 deaths nationally and more than 900 deaths in Washington in a few months. Many protestors didn’t wear masks or practice social distancing, with hugs and handshakes being a common sight.
Washington reported an additional 286 COVID-19 cases and 16 more deaths Saturday.
Inslee has said the state could move forward with his four-phase plan every three weeks, depending on whether the virus flares up again. Inslee announced Friday that five smaller-population counties in Eastern Washington could advance to Phase Two of the state’s plan, which allows restaurants to reopen at 50% capacity, among other things.
Oregon known coronavirus cases rise to 3,228
Health officials confirmed 60 new coronavirus cases Sunday, bringing the state’s known total to 3,228.
The Oregon Health Authorityalso reported eight new presumptive cases. Those are people who have not tested positive, but have coronavirus symptoms and have had close contact with a confirmed case.
Officials announced no new coronavirus-related deaths Sunday.
In Oregon, 127 people are known to have died from COVID-19.
Washington has more than 16,000 confirmed cases
In Southwest Washington, Clark County Public Health Friday reported one new confirmed case of coronavirus, bringing the county’s total number of known cases to 375.
Clark County has removed one case from its case count after learning the person lived in a different county.
No new deaths were reported Friday. In total, 23 people are known to have died of COVID-19 in Clark County.
The latest available data from the Washington Department of Health show 16,674 diagnosed cases of the coronavirus statewide, and 921 related deaths.
Copyright 2020 Oregon Public Broadcasting
